While Arsenal chases an unprecedented ``double-double,'' Manchester United could wind up with an unwanted double of its own -- no trophies for two seasons in a row.
Ousted from the Champions Cup on Wednesday by Real Madrid, Alex Ferguson's Reds hold a three-point lead over Arsenal in the Premier League race going into Sunday's game at Tottenham.
But Arsene Wenger's Gunners have a game in hand, a slightly better goal difference and an easier run-in to the end of the season. The Gunners could have gone to the top of the league yesterday, at least for a day, by beating relegation-threatened Bolton.
Arsenal also has reached the FA Cup final against Southampton on May 17 and, as defending champion in both competitions, could become the first team in the 115-year history of league and cup soccer to win both in successive years.
Despite its advantage in the league standings, Manchester United, which won seven league titles in nine seasons between 1993 to 2001, faces the possibility of winning nothing at all for the second year in a row.
Ferguson's team was beaten by Liverpool in the final of the League Cup and by Arsenal in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
With the future of David Beckham dominating the headlines after he was left out of the starting lineup for the game against Real Madrid on Wednesday, United is under pressure to bounce back after its elimination from the Champions Cup.
The England captain went on as a late substitute to score two goals in a 4-3 victory but the Reds went out 6-5 on aggregate to the defending European champions.
Ferguson's decision not to start Beckham increased speculation that the England captain could be on his way to Madrid in a ?38 million (US$59 million) transfer during the summer.
P W D L F A Pts
1. Man Utd 35 22 8 5 66 32 74
2. Arsenal 34 21 8 5 71 36 71
3. Chelsea 35 18 9 8 65 35 63
4. Newcastle 35 19 5 11 59 46 62
5. Liverpool 35 17 10 8 53 37 61
Source: Reuters
A week short of his 28th birthday, Beckham has been at Old Trafford since he left school at 15. Although he has pledged to stay for the rest of his career, he has fallen out with Ferguson several times and the club's owners might not be able to resist such a huge transfer fee.
Ferguson now has to decide whether to start Beckham against Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Last season he starred in United's memorable 5-3 victory at the same ground after Spurs had led 3-0 at the half.
Spurs manager Glenn Hoddle says he's not interested in whether Beckham faces his team or not.
``That's a matter for Sir Alex Ferguson,'' he said. ``Whatever team United put out on Sunday will be a world class one.
``When they were beaten (3-1) by Madrid in the first leg they came back and put six past Newcastle away from the home. Last season we were 3-0 up at half time and they came back and scored five. And people have already forgotten that they beat the best team in the world 4-3 on Wednesday.''
Manchester United has scored 23 goals in its last seven games.
``We have to maintain the determination and focus we have shown in recent weeks and try to keep the goal ratio going because in the end, that could be important,'' Ferguson said.
``Losing on Wednesday was disappointing but we are still top of the league and the players know if they win their last three games they have an outstanding chance of winning it and that has to be our aim now.''
With Arsenal expected to collect three points at Bolton, United can't afford any slip-ups against Spurs. Star striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has scored 39 goals this season, says the gloom of Champions Cup elimination won't last.
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